User Guide

Asset Information

This section contains information about using assets in DVD Studio Pro.

1440 x 1080 Resolution Supports the 16:9 Aspect Ratio Only

The 1.0 version of the HD DVD-Video specification stipulates that the 1440 x 1080

resolution can only be used for anamorphic 16:9 aspect ratio video. Pre-1.0 versions of

the HD DVD-Video specification included the ability to use the 1440 x 1080 resolution

for both the 4:3 and anamorphic 16:9 aspect ratios.

This change to the HD DVD-Video specification affects what happens when you import

1440 x 1080 resolution assets:

MPEG-2 or HDV:

These assets are identified as either 4:3 or anamorphic 16:9 by a flag

contained in the MPEG stream. Any of these assets flagged as 4:3 cannot be

imported into DVD Studio Pro.

H.264 or QuickTime (other than HDV):

These assets are not identified as either

4:3 or anamorphic 16:9. DVD Studio Pro imports these assets and treats them as

anamorphic 16:9.

Any of these assets that are actually 4:3 are distorted to fit the

16:9 aspect ratio.

The MPEG encoder embedded in DVD Studio Pro encodes all 1440 x 1080 QuickTime

assets (other than HDV or H.264) as anamorphic 16:9.

This change to the HD DVD-Video specification also affects what happens when you

open projects created with DVD Studio Pro 4.0, 4.0.1, and 4.0.2 that use 1440 x 1080

resolution assets:

If any tracks, menus, or slideshows are set to 1440 x 1080 with a 4:3 display mode,

these

assets are all automatically changed to a display mode of 16:9 letterbox.

If the assets are MPEG-2 or HDV,

the project opens but shows any of these assets set as

4:3 as missing, reports them as having an incorrect format, and requires them to be

replaced. To work around this, you need to note the names of the affected assets,

close the project (without saving it), replace the assets with anamorphic 16:9 versions

using exactly the same names, and then reopen the project. The project’s assets

refresh, allowing them to be used.

If the assets are H.264,

they are treated as if they are anamorphic 16:9 assets.

This will

distort any of these assets that are actually 4:3.

If the assets are QuickTime (other than HDV or H.264),

their encoding aspect ratio

setting is modified to 16:9.

This will distort any of these assets that are actually 4:3.